Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has hit out at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once again, this accusing the German of using "mind games" ahead of the Reds clash with Manchester United.
Clattenburg caused a stir earlier this week when he admitted that United used to have an "aura" around them which could be used to influence refereeing decisions.
But he has now sought to clarify those comments following the reaction from several high-profile figures within the game.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Clattenburg explained: "I was disappointed, if not surprised, by the reaction of Liverpool's supporters and their former player Didi Hamann to what I'd said.
"The way they interpreted my column was to suggest I'd said there was a refereeing 'bias' towards United. I did not, because there isn't and never has been.
"I never used the word 'bias' anywhere. There used to be an 'aura' around United when Ferguson was there, yes. But that does not exist anymore.
"In fact, there is more of an aura around Klopp and Liverpool than there is United and Old Trafford."
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Klopp tried not to be drawn further on the number of penalty kicks that Manchester United have been awarded this season.
He also made clear that his players do not go to ground easily and he would never encourage them to do so.
But Clattenburg has now accused Klopp of using 'mind games' - the exact thing the German stated he wanted to avoid.
"He knows what he's doing, he's incredibly smart, it's why he's one of the best managers we've had in the Premier League," the ex-referee added.
"Klopp once tried to stare me out before a match. That's fine, he has a presence and an aura that he uses for the benefit of his team.
"But the point I made on Thursday was that, by Klopp referencing the amount of penalties Manchester United have won in comparison to Liverpool, I believe he was trying to get inside the head of the referee ahead of Sunday's huge game at Anfield.
"I remarked how not since Sir Alex Ferguson had we seen such blatant mind games.
"Klopp denies this and said: 'I am not Sir Alex'.
"But then why did he mention United's penalties so specifically? Only he knows his motivation.
"I also think he is getting prickly because of Liverpool's recent form. I've seen it before with him, he's not a good loser. Ferguson wasn't, either.
"They are more alike than he perhaps realises."
